If convicted of having had six liaisons with the 15-year-old boy, the 32-year-old married woman could be looking at up to 10 years behind bars, a fine on each of the six charges or both jail time and a fine.

The bespectacled woman appeared in a district court three weeks ago to face the charges for the alleged offences, said to have taken place between March 10 and May 8.

The charge details were made available to reporters only yesterday.

No other information is available, but the district court has granted the prosecution's application against the publication of any detail that would lead to the boy being identified.

The woman, who is represented by Senior Counsel Sant Singh, is out on $10,000 bail and is due back in court on Nov 7, when a pre-trial conference will be scheduled.

Up till February this year, an older woman who had carnal connections with a male under 16 could be charged with molestation. If found guilty, she faced up to two years in jail or a fine or both.

But the Penal Code was amended this year to give protection to all minors, male or female.

Mr Ravinderpal Singh, a lawyer of 12 years' standing, said yesterday: 'Before, in consensual sex with minors, only females were protected because they were offences under the Women's Charter.

'But now, even consensual sex with a boy below 16 is an offence under the Penal Code.'

elena@sph.com.sg